Rossendale

Rossendale's population increased by about 2,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 68,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Rossendale increased by 3.6%, from almost 65,700 to 68,000.

The addition of about 2,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rossendale was home to, on average, 3.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rossendale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rossendale increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 12.0% of people in Rossendale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rossendale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Rossendale

The percentage of Rossendale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.5% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.3%, while the percentage of Rossendale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.8%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Rossendale

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Rossendale was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.2 points.

In 2011, 25.2% of respondents in Rossendale gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 13.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 10.5% to 19.8%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Rossendale, 63.8% said they were Christian, compared with 75.7% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.0% to 6.4%.

In Rossendale, 6.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.0% in 2001. In North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Rossendale increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Rossendale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Rossendale that were married decreased from 52.1% to 46.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.5%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 27.6% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Rossendale that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.9% to 13.4%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 49.8% in 2001 to 45.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rossendale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.8% to 6.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.9% in 2001. The percentage of Rossendale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.3% to 14.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rossendale decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rossendale, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in social renting

The percentage of socially rented homes fell in Rossendale at a faster rate than in Burnley (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Rossendale).

In Rossendale, the proportion of social housing decreased from 17.8% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Burnley decreased from 15.0% to 14.1%.

Across the North West, the share of socially rented homes decreased from 20.0% to 18.3%.

Private renting in Rossendale increased from 7.9% to 14.1%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71.6% to 69.7%.

The rate of social housing in Rossendale decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rossendale, the North West and England that rented socially, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

The percentage of households with children fell in Rossendale at a faster rate than across England.

In Rossendale, the proportion of households with children decreased from 32.5% in 2001 to 30.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

Across the North West, the share of households with children decreased from 30.4% to 28.8%.

The proportion of households without children in Rossendale increased from 58.0% to 60.2%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.5% to 9.8%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Rossendale working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12.2% to 9.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Rossendale decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Rossendale, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Rossendale, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.6% to 12.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.9%) households had only one person, compared with 29.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rossendale which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 38.4% to 33.6%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Rossendale increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rossendale, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Rossendale

In 2011, 5.0% of Rossendale residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 3.2% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 3.8% to 6.2%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 93.8% of people in Rossendale said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 96.2% in 2001. About 0.9% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.5% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.2%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Rossendale increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rossendale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Rossendale residents that were unemployed increased from 2.9% to 4.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 53.8%, while the percentage of Rossendale residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 10.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Rossendale increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Rossendale, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Rossendale residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Rossendale remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rossendale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links